We’ve all seen those little “Intel this-that-or-the-next-thing Inside” stickers on computers, laptops, netbooks and so on. The problem is, very few of us actually know how to decipher them in a way that will benefit us. This breakdown attempts to get behind the stickers and explain to you how those tiny piece of information can help you buy the right device.

The Basics

Intel Core is a brand name used for various mid-range to high-end consumer and business microprocessors made by Intel. In very basic terms, the microprocessor is what makes the computer run. (It combines all the processes of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) into one circuit.)

Today the Intel Core brand has a mind-boggling array of choices (such as Core2 Duo and Core2 Quad, etc). Over time those will go away and in its place will be a simplified family of Core processors spanning multiple levels: Intel Core i3 processor, Intel Core i5 processor, and Intel Core i7 processors. Core i3 and Core i5 are new and join the previously announced Intel Core i7 to round out the family structure. These are modifiers to the Intel Core brand that have different features and benefits.

There is a range of features and capabilities within the Intel Core family, simplified into entry-level (Intel Core i3), mid-level (Intel Core i5), and high-level (Intel Core i7). Celeron is more for entry-level computing at affordable prices, Pentium for basic computing, and the Intel Atom processor for all these new devices ranging from netbooks to smartphones.

Picking a Processor

For PC purchasing, think in terms of good-better-best with Celeron being good, Pentium better, and the Intel Core family representing the best they have to offer.

Atom

The Intel Atom Microprocessor is a line of ultra-low-voltage microprocessors that are used mainly in netbooks, nettops, and mobile Internet devices (MIDs). It has a fairly low performance and it uses minimal power, which is why it is used in the newer mobile devices.

Celeron

The performance of Celeron processors is often significantly lower when compared to similar CPUs with higher-priced Intel CPU brands. For example, the Celeron brand will often have less cache memory, or have advanced features purposely disabled. These missing features can have a variable impact on performance, but is often very substantial.

The latest Celeron design has only 66% as much cache memory as the comparable Core i3 offering.

Pentium

The Pentium processor is Intel's fifth-generation microarchitecture. Within the Pentium category came various different versions including Pentium Pro, II, III, 4, D, M and so on. These are all very different from each other. In terms of features, price and performance, Pentium Dual-Core processors were positioned above Celeron but below Core and Core 2 microprocessors in Intel's product range. The Pentium Dual-Core was also a very popular choice, as it can deliver high performance at a low price.

Core 2 Duo

Combining mainstream processing speeds with power-saving features, desktop PCs with the Intel Core 2 processor family let you get more done in less time, reducing energy costs by an average of 50 percent.

Core 2 Quad

The Intel Core2 Quad processor for desktop PCs is designed to handle massive compute and visualisation workloads enabled by powerful multi-core technology. The Intel Core 2 Quad desktop processors deliver amazing performance and power efficiency.

Core i3

The Intel Core i3 processor provides the basis for an affordable PC. The Core i3 was intended to be the new low end of the performance processor line from Intel, following the retirement of the Core 2 brand.

Core i5

It is positioned between the mainstream Core i3 and the high-end Core i7.

Core i7

As of 2010, Core i7 is the high end of the Core brand. 

Core i7 Extreme

With the widest array of performance-enhancing features available for laptops, the 2nd generation Intel Core i7 processor Extreme Edition will have you reaching unprecedented speeds, and dominating the gaming world.

2nd Generation Intel Core and Intel Core vPro Processor Families

There's a lot to like in the 2nd generation Intel Core and Intel Core vPro processor families the intelligent new features that make 2nd generation Intel Core processors so attractive for business. Performance enhancements. Built-in visuals. Hardware-assisted security and manageability. Support for desktop virtualisation.

The 2nd generation Intel Core vPro mobile processor family offer the following advantages:

• Greater speed automatically whenever your PC needs it
• Multitasking capabilities
• Speeds up protection
• Enables remote control even through firewalls
• Anti-theft technology
• Intel graphics for sharper images and richer colour, built-in - no graphics card required
• Intel® InTru™ 3D7,8 enables full HD stereoscopic 3D viewing.

View a comparison guide of the second gen processors here.